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Even today silver is considered to be a refined metal that enhances the beauty of any girl. Silver rings for women take special place, because this category of items is one of the most popular among modern jewellery. It is cheaper than gold, but it looks just fine. The rings are made of silver, have a variety of shapes and they are also combined and decorated with a variety of precious stones.
Are you looking for something to make your image brighter? The solution is so simple – silver rings for women. Online shopping is also a popular way of purchasing, especially for its safety with our online resource. As for the items, they were not created to demonstrate the status and beauty. In many cases it happens in the way that these decorations are presented as a symbol of memory or a sign of a romantic relationship which exist between man and woman. Silver is an incredibly popular material for jewellery. It is the reason, according to which young girls and boys choose the items from it, while buying the gifts in our online store. Silver ring for women with price is the best present for any occasion and for women of any age, because such item is universal and magnificent.
When buying silver rings for women online, you should remember how to choose it. If the budget allows, you may get few decorations once, one of which you will wear on a daily basis, and the other – for special occasions or just like a night one. Silver rings, made simply but elegantly, will be a perfect complement to the image of the business look, without attracting undue attention. For this purpose, it is important to choose a concise and rigorous shape of the decoration.
If you occupy a fairly honourable position in the professional field, you can afford the women silver ring with small patches of diamonds, rock crystal or high-quality rhinestone. Such items are represented in the catalogue of our online shop, which offers everyone the best range of decorations and optimal prices.
From recent times quite massive and complex patterns in the rings are in fashion. It is important to make the right choice and do not buy items, without making sure that they are suitable for you. Stylists do not recommend buying such decoration for not thin girls or women of solid years – it will emphasize their age and generally will look tasteless. Overall women's silver rings visually compensate the excessive thinness of girls, so these models are appropriate for slim representatives.
Silver rings for women, price for which is affordable in our online store, will suit well for older women. It will suit even better in few times, if these decorations are designed with some precious stones. To choose the best jewellery item is not a problem for women and girls with our online shop, which specializes in high-quality silver jewellery combined with reasonable prices.
Today silver ring for women in the eastern style is also in fashion, becoming more and more popular. But it is required to follow some rules and take into account some recommendations, and only in this way they will emphasize the colourful image, but do not cause a sense of meaningless clutter on your toes. Ornaments are beautiful, when they are used in proper quantity and there is not a single superfluous detail.
The advantage of silver rings is that they can be combined with absolutely any styles of clothes. Silver never loses its relevance and always looks great. In our online store you can find silver rings for women with price, so it is easy and convenient to purchase the most appropriate decoration. We hope you will look through catalogue properly, to find the best item for our everyday life.


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Ottmar Brandau
"What's new?" Magazines such as Plastics Technology focus heavily on reporting on new developments in machinery, auxiliary equipment, tooling and materials. While all this is good stuff, the simple truth in extrusion blow molding (EBM) and other plastics processing is that your ability to operate profitability is governed mainly by how judiciously you use resin. To prove this point, take a look at the cost structure of a typical molded part.
In the scenario in Fig. 1, a four-cavity machine is making a 35-g part in cycle time of 12 sec. Resin accounts for 63.5% of total manufacturing cost. When you add in the costs associated with scrap (this example assumes 4% of the material used in the process is scrap; in reality that percentage is often higher), material-related costs are bumped up to two-thirds of total expenses.
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In other words, the money is in the resin. Improvements you may be looking to make in labor or energy are important, but the benefits pale in comparison with savings that can be achieved by optimizing resin usage. This article does not concern itself with resin buying strategies—a different topic of equal importance—but with making the most efficient use of what you have already purchased.
Let's start by reviewing the basics of the process and relevant terminology. In EBM, plastic pellets are extruded into a hollow tube called a parison. For this purpose, the plastic exits the extrusion head via a male pin (also called a mandrel) and a female die (also called a bushing). The parison is then clamped between two mold-halves and air enters through a blow pin or needle into the cavity, forcing the parison onto the cooled mold walls, where it rapidly solidifies into the desired shape of container. There is always flash at the top and bottom of the container that must be trimmed, ground, and fed back to the extruder as regrind.
Most machines nowadays are equipped with a wall-thickness controller or programmer that moves either the pin or die during extrusion to vary the thickness of the parison. This programmer may use 20 to 400 points to control parison thickness during extrusion.
As a result, material can be distributed to various container sections that require different amounts of plastic in a more uniform way. Bottle shoulders, for example, always need less material than bottle bodies, and this can easily accomplished by using the programmer. For the programmer to work properly it is critically important that the length of the parison is always the same and that all parisons in a multi-cavity setup are of the same length. This is true because the programmed thin and thick spots must end up precisely in the container sections they are destined for, and varying parison length will move these spots up or down.
Virgin plastic, regrind, and possibly color must be mixed and supplied at precise rates. This is especially important for color additives, which tend to be expensive. Older systems used time-dependent feeding of virgin and regrind, and feed screws driven by DC motors for color. This system can lead to layering of the virgin and resin, which in turn can result in extruder surging.
A better approach is to deploy a gravimetric material feeding system that weighs each lot of material before dispensing. Many molders do use these systems, but unfortunately many of them are not calibrated properly and are therefore not delivering consistent batch amounts. This is often due to the fact that material handlers are not aware of the importance of proper calibration or are not trained to perform it.
Another complication arises from the fact that regrind levels are usually not constant. During startup, and when adjustments become necessary during a production run, inadequate bottles are thrown onto the flash conveyor and reground. This increases the amount of regrind and fills bins up rapidly. Material handlers that have not been instructed otherwise then routinely increase the regrind percentage on the material feeding systems dramatically to work off the excess regrind.
However, regrind processes differently, and the result of increased regrind percentages is longer and wider parisons. The longer parisons change the positions of important program points and the result can be containers that are out of specification. Savvy operators are well aware of this fact and program their parisons accordingly by stretching thick parison sections over more points of the program than necessary. This way, they will still make a sellable part even with a different parison length. The bad news is that the parts will be heavier than they need to be. And that's money down the drain.
So how do you get better at efficient resin consumption? Here are six quick thoughts:
•Tip 1: Train material handlers in how to calibrate gravimetric feeding systems and establish procedures to deal with increases in regrind. Tape a piece of tail flash with the proper length to the safety gate so an operator can check quickly whether the parison length is what it should be.
Many operators give up too early in adjusting parison length when it comes to multi-cavity systems. To get all four, eight, or 12 parisons extruding out of a head to the same length requires skill and patience. Small mechanical adjustments are necessary, and each requires stopping the machine. Operators are generally reluctant to halt production. For very short runs it may not be suitable to spend too much time on parison length, but every run over one week long should be considered deserving of this care.
•Tip 2: Allow setup personnel time to properly adjust parison length when warranted, and have them tighten up thick sections in the extrusion program.
•Tip 3: Review programmer needs and plant equipment and replace inadequate programmers. In order to put material where it is needed in the container, the programmer must be responsive and allow good control over the parison. Unfortunately, may companies still run programmers that offer only 20 or 25 programming points per extrusion cycle. While this is sufficient for the short parison of a 20-oz bottle, sizes above 32 oz would do better with 64 programming points. A parison 2-ft long (or more) should be programmed with at least 100 points (programmers with up to 400 points are available now).
Only with sufficient programming points is it possible to direct material effectively into container areas that need it. The servo valves that control the movement of the hydraulic cylinders for programming also must be responsive enough to follow sharp program transitions. All too often, a servo valve comes under scrutiny only when it fails. Have setup personnel adjust servo-valve gains regularly, at least monthly. This important procedure takes less than 5 min.
There are additional options if you're molding oblong bottles. Either the pin or die may be ovalized (with the die being the preferred choice). This may be necessary to add strength to corners or to avoid thick ribs across the panel area of a flat oval container. This is usually accomplished by scalloping out parts of the die in some specified fashion to allow plastic to flow into these areas.
Blow molders benefit greatly if they have this capability in-house rather than buying ovalized tooling from outside. That is because more often than not small adjustments can be made only after an initial run and many processors hesitate to send tools out for rework because of the ensuing production delays. As a result, insufficiently ovalized tools lead to weight settings higher than would be necessary had personnel gone the extra mile. That leads us directly to our next tip.
•Tip 4: Build die ovalization expertise in-house and strive to perfect tools before going into production. The situation is different for processors and brand owners. The latter have the highest interest in lowest-weight containers, as it directly affects the price they pay for the package. The challenge is the same whether production is in-house or through a supplier. Smaller companies can learn from large groups and develop their own sets of testing procedures that adequately reflect the product life cycle.
All too often assumptions are made about what top load the container must have or what drop test conditions are adequate. It takes a closer look at what the container is exposed to in the distribution chain and at the consumer to come up with testing regimens that will give a high confidence level that the product will not fail.
Because EBM allows lightweighing without adding much cost, long-term tests can be made while in production, with some sort of safety margin built into the container. If it turns out that a lighter container will do the job, this can be implemented at any time. Engineers should know that the brimful capacity of the container will most likely go up, not just because of thinner container walls but because these thinner walls bulge out more after filling. It is therefore recommended to run initial containers at the lower end of the capacity tolerance.
Tip 5: For brand owners, because some testing involves long-term procedures, manufacture initial containers with a wider safety margin to speed up time to market. Run lower-weight samples and test them during production. Reduce weight when testing shows that lower-weight containers will perform.
The situation is a bit different for molders. They are usually given a weight specification with a tolerance. Let's say a container may be run at 27 g with a tolerance of ±1.5 g. Very often there is also a minimum wall thickness specified, usually for the bottom corner.
In the computer simulation in Fig. 2, the mold is green and the parison is yellow, orange, and red depending on wall thickness (with red being the thinnest). This simulation clearly shows that the parison has to travel the longest to reach the bottom corner, making this part the thinnest, thus requiring the most attention during programming.
Because operators do not like to have their production quarantined by quality control for insufficient wall thickness, their tendency is to run the container in this example at 27.5 to 28.5 g. However, if they had followed the suggestions above they might be comfortable in running it at 26.5 to 27.5 g and save about 1 g of material. One gram of material savings on the 9 million containers the shuttle machine in our cost example can produce translates into savings of almost $16,000/yr, assuming resin price of 80¢/lb.
Tip 6: Implement all other suggestions and run suitable product tightly around the target weight for additional savings. Tightening up on machine functions with new programmers and properly adjusted material feeders results in more consistent container dimensions, weights, and test results. The ability to run containers with parameter values that gather tightly around the target values translates into a higher process-capability factor (Cpk value) when the numbers are run through statistical analysis. Large brand owners tend to want to do more business with companies that can provide these numbers.
About the Author
Ottmar Brandau is principal of Apex Container Tech Inc., Wasaga Beach, Ont., a consulting company that specializes in design and manufacturing for EBM and stretch-blow molding. Apex is involved in operator/engineer training, product development, plant audits and improvement programs, process troubleshooting, and new plant layouts and startups. Contact: (705) 429-1492; e-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com, website: blowmolding.org
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subset: commoncrawl


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Points Credit : 6 points Currently valued at $0.65
Kosher Certified by Star KCertified Organic by EcoCertGluten Free, Wheat FreeRamen are traditional Japanese style noodle cakes which unfold on cooking. Using these quick cooking noodles, a meal can easily be prepared in just a few minutes.
Unlike most ramen noodles which are produced from wheat, our noodles are made from 100% brown rice. They have a delicate texture and a delicious, nutty flavor suitable for many dishes.
Our noodles are hand crafted in the traditional way and individually portioned and packed for your convenience.
To Prepare: Bring 1 litre of water to a boil. Add one noodle cake per person. When the noodles begin to unfold, separate them gently with a fork and then reduce the heat. Continue to cook for 2-3 minutes or until the noodles are soft. Strain through a colander and briefly rinse with cold water.
Serving suggestions:Add to mixed mushrooms fried with garlic and fresh herbs. Mix inwith Miso soup for a healthy and traditional Japanese snack. Ingredients: Organic brown rice flour, water
Factory may handle nut and sesame products.Product of China NUTRITION FACTS Serving Size 2.5oz (70g)Amount per serving Calories 243 Calories from fat 20 %DV Total Fat 2g - 3% Saturated Fat 0.5g - 2% Trans Fat 0g Cholesterol 0mg - 0% Sodium 0mg - 0% Potassium 175mg - 5%Total Carbohydrates 52g - 17% Dietary Fiber 1g Sugars 1g Protein 5g Vitamin A 0%Vitamin C 0%Calcium 1%Iron 4%


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The Gommage de Beauté
Skin resurfacing peel
Purify and illuminates
Indisponible - CA$ 75.00
The Gommage de Beauté by Guerlain, the grain-free skin resurfaçing peel to reveal the skin's natural radiance. Its Secret ? Just the right concentration of 3 naturally derived exfoliating acids that complement each other to gently remove dead cells. They help brighten the complexion, smooth the skin, while maintening optimal moisture levels. Its non-abrasive formula is in perfect affinity with all skin types, even the most sensitive.
The exclusive signature fragrance developed for the Gommage de Beauté enfolds the skin in a delicate scent blending the purity of white tea, the comforting freshness of musky notes and a touch of jasmine…
Immediately, skin texture is visibly refined. Pores are tightened ans skin tone even. The complexion is brightened. After one month, the complexion is purified and more luminous.
Smooth the texture all over the face and leave it on like a mask for 5 to 10 minutes.To optimise its effects, massage the centre of the face and the T-zone with the fingertips in small circular movements. Gently rinse thoroughly with water. Pure and rid of impurities and dead cells, the skin is finally ready for and more receptive to skincare.


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Red clover, scientific name Trifolium pretense, is a well-grown "weed" first brought to North America by European colonizers. Today, red clover grows just about everywhere— from fields, to roadsides, and backyard. Red clover thrives most prominently from the month May until September.
A perennial herb in the pea family, red clover physically consists of a long taproot that rises up to a slender stem that is both hollow and hairy at the same time. The plant blossom surface consists of two leaflets and a delightful patch of purplish pink petals. It is the flowering head of the plant that the red clover is sweetest and healthiest.
Organic Red Clover Tea And Its Health Benefits
Red clover extract has long been recognized as a blood purifier. Concoctions derived from red clover, such as red clover tea, is being enjoyed by tea drinkers all around the world for its pleasantly sweet flavor, and its natural ability to calm and quiet the nerves. Red clover is known be a nutritional goldmine, packed with calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, thiamine, and vitamin C, among others.
Entire bodies of relevant research are also beginning to delve deeper into the prescribed effectivity of red clover in the treatment and management of spasmodic bronchial troubles, fresh wounds and old ulcers, as well.
Additional studies, here and there, are also starting to look into other possible medicinal applications of red clover derivatives. Such application include, lowering excessive levels cholesterol, improving blood circulation, lowering the risk of blood clots and arterial plaques, prevention of benign prostate hyperplasia.
Organic Red Clover Tea Helps In Fertility And Menopause
Recognized to date to be among the most popular and potent sources of isoflavones— water-soluble chemicals that behaves similarly to estrogens and are therefore referred to as phytoestrogens—red clover tea works well with the management of hot flashes/flushes frequently experienced by menopausal women.
As menopausal women have an increased risk of developing osteoporosis—characterized as significant loss of bone mass— research suggest that a proprietary isoflavone derivatives of red clover could potentially prevent not only bone loss, but boost bone mineral density, as well. Researchers believe that red clover isoflavones have an uncanny ability to prevent breakdown of bone mass.
How to Prepare Red Clover Tea
Fixing yourself a cup of red clover tea allows you to enjoy not only its aromatic sweet flavor, but all the nutrients and healthy benefits that come with it. To learn how to make healthy red clover tea recipe is easy. You just place a handful of fresh blossoms into a potful of hot water. Then, you just let the blossoms steep for about 10-15 minutes.
Alternatively, you can even make the tea into ice cubes which you can serve to add that distinct red clover sweetness into your drinks. To make the ice cubes even more charming, you can add a petal of red clover blossom to each tea ice cube before freezing.
Related Topics on Red Clover :
- Organic Red Clover Tea And Its Health Benefits http://www.redclovertea.net/health-benefits/
- Organic Red Clover Tea Helps In Fertility And Menopause http://www.redclovertea.net/menopause/
- Where to Buy Red Clover Tea for a Healthy Heart http://www.redclovertea.net/cardiovascular-health/
Video on Red Clover Blossoms Tea
The post Red Clover Tea: Phytoestrogens, Fertility, and Menopause appeared first on Bilberry Tea.


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Don't I know you?
Oh, oh! I had a GREAT moment the other day, one that made me smile all afternoon. I was at the office and about 10:00am felt an urgent need for coffee. As you do. Normally I'd just run up the 3 flights of stairs to the staff cafeteria, but sadly, my purse contained maybe 30 cents..... So, outside and off to the ATM it was.
I got some notes out of the machine and as I exited the bank lobby, two guys came in. I immediately recognised one of them as an old boss from my banking days back in..... um.....1989? Somewhere thereabouts anyway. And I was highly amused as I watched his eyes slide over me, then away, and then he literally did a double-take. I stood there, waiting as his mind frantically raced to put a name to the face. I eventually put him out of his misery and smiled at his "wow, you're looking...... well!" (translation: Holy crap! you're thinner, healthier and blonder than I remember!)
Ah, I love those moments.


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The Bugaboo Donkey Sun Canopy coordinates with your Bugaboo Donkey Duo Extension Set, making it easy to customize your Bugaboo Donkey stroller's seat or bassinet. With the Bugaboo Donkey Sun Canopy, you can choose from a range of colors to suit your style or mood. The colorful polyester fabric offers UPF 50+ to protect your child from the sun and is machine washable. Purchase a Bugaboo Donkey Base, Bugaboo Donkey Tailored Fabric Set, Bugaboo Donkey Duo Extension Set and Bugaboo Donkey Sun Canopy for a complete Duo configuration stroller.
callout top with logo
Bugaboo Donkey Sun Canopy
At a Glance:
Fits Bugaboo Donkey sun canopy wires
Adds color and style to your Bugaboo Donkey seat
Available in an array of colors
Fabric provides UPF 50+
Polyester cover is machine washable
2-year limited warranty.
The Bugaboo Donkey Sun Canopy lets you customize the look of your Bugaboo Donkey stroller. The cover slips on the sun canopy wires included with the Bugaboo Donkey Duo Extension Set, providing a 'hood' for your stroller's seat or bassinet.
Choose from Multiple Color Options
With the Bugaboo Donkey Sun Canopy, you can choose from a range of colors to suit your style or mood. A new canopy can update your stroller to welcome a new baby or a new season. You can even mix and match with Bugaboo Donkey bassinet aprons and other accessories to give your stroller a unique look.
Fabric Offers UPF 50+
The Bugaboo Donkey sun canopy has a curved design that hoods the top of the Bugaboo Donkey bassinet or seat, shielding your baby from the sun. Additionally, the canopy's fabric offers UPF 50+, so you can enjoy daytime walks without worry.
Made of Durable, Machine-Washable Polyester
This canopy is made of polyester for durability and easy care. When it is time to clean the canopy, simply toss it in the washing machine. Air dry.
Warranty Information
The Bugaboo Donkey Sun Canopy is backed by a manufacturer's limited two-year warranty.
Bugaboo: All About Mobility
Bugaboo is a Dutch design company that develops and produces mobility products. Bugaboo is known for its innovative and breakthrough design of strollers. Bugaboo began as a small start up in 1999, but grew rapidly over the next ten years to become a global player. Bugaboo products are now available in more than 50 countries and the company is a proud (PRODUCT)RED™ partner contributing a portion of all revenue across all products to the Global Fund to help eliminate AIDS in Africa, with the goal of ending mother-to-child HIV transmission by 2015.
What's in the Box
Additional Info
|Product Dimensions


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Program Report (Nepal) on Equity in Education: Advocacy through Girls' Education Network, Young People and Political Leaders
Download: English
The United Nations Girls Education Initiative (UNGEI) was officially launched in Nepal in 2008 jointly by the government of Nepal to strengthen the loose network advocating for issues on girls education formed by UNICEF in 2002. Currently the UNGEI network exists at national and district levels with the name Girls Education and Gender Equity Network which is popularly called the GE Network. The network has been actively involved in mainstreaming the UNGEI agenda into the governments plan, working through existing structures and building upon the common vision and goal of all partners working for gender and equity.
The networks achievements have been successful not only in raising awareness about gender equity at the grassroots level but also for having a striking presence in reforming policy. It has been successful in bringing all stakeholders to a single arena.This report touches on the progress that has been made thus far and areas where more efforts are needed.


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For years, i've been searching the internet every time i want to do this. Various guides have come and gone. I rarely deal with git submodules anymore since the dawn of Bundler, but every now and then i find i want to remove a submodule in order to convert to bundler.
So once and for all, here's the process, for example i am deleting a cucumber rails plugin:
Remove the three lines from
[submodule "vendor/plugins/cucumber"] path = vendor/plugins/cucumber url = git://github.com/cucumber/cucumber.git
Remove the two lines from
[submodule "vendor/plugins/cucumber"] url = git://github.com/cucumber/cucumber.git
Delete the git reference file that holds the submodule's SHA commit id. Note the important lack of a trailing slash.
git rm --cached vendor/plugins/cucumber
Git will now see the entire directory as new files, because it's no longer a submodule. Now you are free to delete the whole lot.
rm -rf vendor/plugins/cucumber/
And now you can add it to your
Gemfile to use with bundler :)


text: The world's most beautiful voyage is how the Hurtigruten cruise line bills the coastal voyage from Bergen to Kirkenes. They are so right! We were on the Midnatsol the same time as karoggra who posted a review titled, Best scenic cruise in the world. The voyage is rarely on open sea so you have scenery on both sides of the ship most of the trip. My husband and I were traveling on a tour arranged by travel agency so we had a pickup from our hotel to the dock. We arrived about 6 p.m. after an all day Norway in a Nutshell® tour. Check-in took seconds and we boarded with our carry-on bags. The cabin cards were handed to us as we entered the covered walkway to deck 6. The deck 6 entrance is only used at Bergen. Our bags were waiting at the entrance to our cabin. Since we were doing a round-trip and started at the home port, baggage handling was done by the ship crew. Ship: We had an starboard outside cabin on deck 4. It was 2 cabins away from the atrium where the elevators are located. All the traffic on and off the ship on the voyage takes place on deck 4 by the elevators so it was very handy. The ship has its own gangway which opens up on the side of the side. Stand on deck 5 and watch the gangway open sometime. It is very interesting. There are two other openings in the side of the ship further down for cargo and cars. The ship doesn't have to rely on port gangways which take time. The ship is very efficient getting in and out of ports. Some stops were for only 15 minutes. I learned how they did that visiting the bridge. The cargo hold is designed for pallets so the forklift trucks would be whipping around on the dock unloading or loading. At Stamsund, we had over an hour stay so while we were out walking around the village, the forklift operators were unloading mattresses and building supplies. There is another elevator near the back of the ship serving decks 4 - 8. It is handy for those in the stern of the ship. Public restrooms are available near the dining room on deck 5 and near the main elevators on deck 5 and 8. There is a conference area on deck 5 which is used for presentations or conferences. It is not an entertainment venue. We did have three slide presentations on the ship: The Royal Family, National Day and National Costumes. We are onboard for National Day, May 17. There was a parade around deck 9 with flags, banners, and national costumes. Cabin: Our cabin was very functional. We had a cabin with one twin bed under the window and one perpendicular to it. The bed under the window made into a sofa during the day. The beds are hard but still comfortable. The covers are duvets with a quilted liner. It was too hot for me so I just used the sheet. There was one extra pillow in the room and we asked for another. There are two wool blankets to use on the outside decks. Yes, we needed the blanket when lounging topside some days. You receive one bath towel and one hand towel to start. If you want a clean towel, leave it on the floor. There are no washcloths. I bought a few with me. There is a mounted container of hand soap/shampoo by the sink and in the shower area. To save room packing, I used Twitter @HurtigrutenASA to find out that there was a dryer in the bathroom. There is. The cabin has desk area with small mirrored cubbies on either size of the big mirror. There is a plug by the mirror which we used to charge the camera batteries and iPad. You will need a converter and adapter for the European style plug. The hanging closet had two sections (his and hers) with 5 hangers in each section. The clothes hang front to back rather than side by side. There were two sections of shelving in the main closet and two more big shelves by the desk. The suitcases fit under the bed. The bathroom was very functional and I liked it better than some of the US market ships I have been on. There is a step up to the bathroom. There is a small step down to the shower. It is designed to have an angle to allow more room. The curtain is long enough to keep the water in the shower area. The shower head can be kept mounted on the pole or used as a hand-held. There is a retractable clothes line. The floor can be heated with the switch on the wall outside the bathroom. There is a big wall cabinet with shelves for all your toiletries. I still had space in it after stowing everything. There is a towel bar by the sink with wall mounted cup holders. I found out that the inside cabins do have TV as well as the suites. No TV in the outside cabins. It was not missed. The telephone has some radio stations that you can listen to. There are 4 washing machines on deck 4 close to the rear elevator. You purchase a token from reception and they give you the soap. The dryer is free. There are posted instructions in English. The machines are labelled in Norwegian. We did two loads for about $10. What to do: If you take the round trip cruise you will receive a 130-page book with colored photos and an explanation of what you will see broken down by days. It is a great resource to read about what you are seeing along the way. The Tour Director does make announcements as described in three languages, English is always the second one. She gave us a heads up to what scenic wonder was coming our way so we could get to observation lounges or the correct side of the ship. You can turn off the announcements on the phone in your cabin. As mentioned, there are many lounges without any waiters to bother you about drinks. If you want a drink, you go to the bar and get it yourself. There was a tray for self-busing of cups and glasses in most lounges. We liked the forward lounges on deck 8 and 9 and the library on deck 8. The library has games and some English language books left by passengers. The deck 8 and 9 lounges have windows on three sides so you had a great view of the scenery. Deck 9 lounge is actually open to deck 8 lounge. It does get a little warm up there so we preferred deck 8. Deck 9 had three major sections, the inside lounge, the outside deck with glass walls to protect from the wind and the back deck. We liked to lounge in the back. The chairs are not loungers so if you want to put your feet up, use another chair. There are many teak round tables and matching chairs near the doorway on deck 9. The smokers were usually in this area. Food: I was more impressed with the food than other reviewers. The food presentation at dinner was very impressive. Two chef teams took over the buffet area (in the center of the room) to dish up the food. One did the sauce, one plated the entree and sides and another added the garnishes. We received a booklet with the menus for the trip so we knew what night we would have the reindeer or the salmon. I am not a great fish eater but I did enjoy the meals. Granted the breakfast and lunch buffets didn't vary much but they had a different hot breakfast item daily and hot lunch items. I discovered the hot oatmeal and added dried fruit and granola stuff to it. There was soft and hardboiled eggs very morning. I liked the whole grain breads. They did have a breakfast pasty item each day. They had a 6-slice toaster if you wanted toast. We learned to grab juice and water from the machine and stake out a table for the open seating breakfast. Than we headed to the buffet to stock up. Keep in mind the buffet is designed for the European market so expect cheese and cold cuts on the breakfast menu. Where else can you have cottage cheese and herring for breakfast. My husband was delighted with the 4-5 cheese selections at breakfast and lunch. He reports that they were mostly soft, all delicious, but no cheddar. You won't find tacos, pizza, or hamburgers on the menu. If you want french fries, go to the snack bar and pay for them. The soups were excellent. I like smooth cream soups and these were excellent. Who knew asparagus soup could taste so good. The desserts were good and don't miss out on the slab ice cream at lunch. I didn't discover that until day 4! Coffee: The coffee came out of one of the machines where you press a button and you get a cup of coffee. It is strong! I would have a cup with breakfast and than take another cup out to the lounge. Coffee was not provided at the table for dinner. The coffee machine is located on deck 8 by the bar. After dinner you go for coffee. If you want coffee between meals, you pay 25 KOR ($3.85) for a cup. They do have a coffee plan which is good for an entire year! You pay 209 KOR ($32.20 at this time) for a red metal lined mug which allows you to get coffee or tea for the trip. If you were a commuter and traveled frequently, it would be a good deal. We opted not to do that and were fine with the free coffee after meals. Water: Although there are signs on the dining room table for purified water for 19 KOR, we found out that you just ask for tap water and they bring a carafe of water (no ice) to the table. They do that at lunch and dinner. I brought my own water bottle with me which I refilled from the bathroom sink. The water is nice and cold and tastes like bottled water. Tours: We went on the following excursions: (Northbound) Trondheim Folk Museum, Tromsø City Tour (Polaria and Arctic Cathedral), and (Southbound) Tromsø Midnight Concert the ship arrives at 11:45 p.m., Lofoten Islands countryside tour, Trondheim City Tour (includes Nidaros Cathedral). We might have gone on more tours but they are not cheap. My husband says, the Folk Museum could have been skipped. I did the Bridge Tour to see the Captain and the Bridge on day 11. I found it very interesting and worthwhile. That is posted in the daily program. Shopping: The gift shop on board has a very nice selection of Norwegian products. We ended up doing most of our souvenir shopping on board. There is a nice gift shop at the Polar Bear Club in Hammerfest right by the dock. By the way the public library is across the street and has free wi-fi. There is a nice gift shop and ice bar in Honningsvåg close to the dock. Internet Access: There are 4 computers on deck 8 by the library. There is a 40 KOR ($6.22) charge per hour of use. I used my iPad and iTouch with the wireless that is available in the public areas. It is satellite so the reception is dependent upon a good signal so don't expect much when in the fjords or when there are mountain ranges on both sides of the ship. The mountains do impact reception. Deck 8 or 9 is the best. There is no coverage in the cabins and deck 5 is not as strong as deck 8. Thanks to the purser who helped me get the wi-fi started on my new iPad. Staff: The staff are great. All are Norwegian and most switch effortlessly from Norwegian to English to German. The staff work 22 days on and then 22 days off including the captain. We did see some new faces over the course of the cruise. There is not a culture of tipping so we didn't have to worry about an add on for tips like most cruises. There is a big wooden bowl by the head waiter's desk at the entrance to the dining room. There is a small sign that it is for TIPS with Thank You in several languages. We left the rest of our Norwegian money in the tip bowl. The staff are helpful, have a ready smile, are efficient but are not fawning. Since the Hurtigruten line does ferry and cargo service besides us tourists, they have some systems that are not the same as a regular cruise line. What you won't see: no towel animals, no nightly program in your room, (pick it up in the announcement area on deck 8), no turn down service, no free between meal snacks, no singers and dancers (singer and keyboard in the lounge deck 8 in the evening), and no rah rah cruise director. What you will find is a comfortable trip in the midst of spectacular scenery with plenty of time to relax and read or look out the window. As Americans, we were in the minority. The prominent groups were Norwegian and German. The weather was good for most of the trip. The last few days were overcast with clouds hiding the mountain tops. We had clear skies for a good part of the trip and enjoyed the midnight sun.


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Tryl,First, I must apologize for not reading the entire thread, but I did scan it. My time and cognitive faculties are being reserved for acquiring that paper that pays the bills, which is also on paper. BUT, I found it extremely important to thank you for taking the time to write this. I truly agree with this statement: "my belief that we need to, in the process of our re-wiring, accent on the importance of nutrition, exercise, etc. just as much (if not maybe even more) as we ought upon the need of reconceptualizing our world of understanding. we should be aware that we 'see' what we 'know', that we to a larger degree articulate and arrange the possibilities of our perception(s) in the terms of the language in which we speak and think in. and if you start, for example, changing some of the syntactical habits in which you categorize things in the linear successions of their cause and effect, your whole sense-percept-conceptual apparatus will begin to slowly reconfigure and adjust itself." The philosophical nature of the conversation could distract me for hours, I am fascinated with this type of evaluation. I speak 2 languages, have lived in multiple countries, studied language in psychology research labs........what you are talking about is not light stuff. This is my favorite part of psychology actually. I promise to come back and read this more in depth and have some quality discourse at a later point. I am inclined to believe you posted this here for a reason. As I am new to the moderator role, I am still trying to figure out what this "Staying Clean" board was, is, and can be. So for my sake, and for others, would you be so kind as to talk a little about what has motivated you to post this? and why here? I think that the insight you provide, how you have seen this in your own life, or operated with this in mind in your life, will be very beneficial for everyone to see. Much Love,Blue
a sort of a pragmatic approach of applied metaphysics, incredibly reminiscent of certain introspective phases and states we've come to be familiar with through use of various tryptamines...all in all, i believe that in the times we live in today, it is of critical importance to calibrate our terms to fact, and acquire as many 'tools' and perspectives as we could...
Example: say you have wildly fluctuating self-esteem, you oscillate between grandiosity and self-loathing, such as imho many addicts do. the point is to see where the contradiction comes from. In my case, e.g. I grew up in an environment where I was alternatiely hyped and cut down by others. So I developed two incompatible self images based on that. The trick is now to realise that it is not my self that is contradictory, it is the behaviour of people on the outside. So that way I kind of push the contradiction out of my system and back into the world. Its kind of socialism for the soul :-)If you follow a process like that and sublate (=remove) contradiction from your self, the self automatically strives toward unity and "de-fragmentation". It is my firm belief that Ibo helps with this process or that it is even made for this purpose. I'm fascinated by the similarity of neural structures, the fractal shape of trees (like Iboga) and a dialectic logical pattern. They all look suspiciously the same :-)
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After a game like Friday's against Edon, it was all too easy for Fayette's varsity boys to fall in love with the outside shooting game.
Unfortunately, those long-distance shots weren't falling Saturday when Holgate visited.
The Eagles (6-6) hit nine threes against Edon (4-8)—the same as the Bombers—but the next night only one of 12 tries made it through the hoop.
The result was a heart-breaking loss, coach Todd Mitchell said, with Holgate (3-9) claiming a 38-34 victory in overtime.
It was a low-scoring game even by Holgate standards, Mitchell said. Both teams hit only one first-quarter bucket from the field and Fayette took a 5-3 lead.
The Tigers came through with 12 in the second and the Eagles only scored three. Fayette was back into contention in the second half, shooting seven for eight from the line in the fourth quarter to keep it tied at 30-30 when the buzzer sounded.
Fayette was in a good position to win in regulation, Mitchell said, but needed more patience to control the game.
In overtime, the Tigers shot three for four from the line to pull out the victory.
"We played much more aggressively in the second half," Mitchell said. "We cut turnovers to three which was a big key in getting back into the lead."
Jason Rodriguez led scoring with nine points. Tyler Keefer finished with six rebounds and Coty Griffiths made three steals.
EDON—Fayette forged a 40-28 half-time lead against Edon, but the Bombers threatened when the Eagles hit a third-quarter slump.
"We should have put it away in the third quarter but we let them back in," Mitchell said.
The Bombers came through with 23 third-quarter points, but the Eagles stayed on top in the final period with Austin Hylander scoring seven of his 22. Rodriguez also hit double figures with 15 and Evan Stoltzfus finished with 11. Hylander collected eight rebounds while Keefer and Griffiths each finished with six.
• Fayette will try to avenge an earlier loss to Stryker (6-6) at home Friday. They travel to Montpelier on Saturday.
JV BOYS: Fayette's varsity boys team wasn't the only one to experience overtime heartbreak Saturday night. The JV team also fell to Holgate in an extra session, 32-31.
The Eagles made a remarkable comeback from an early 13-0 deficit. In the end, a rebound and last-second shot win the game for Holgate.
In the first half, the outside shots weren't falling, coach Matt Maginn said, so the Eagles penetrated in the second half and turned the game around. Fayette's press also gave the visitors a challenge.
Trevor Cox finished with 18 points and scored all nine of the team's free throws. He also collected three rebounds and three steals. Travis Kline brought in four rebounds.
The Eagles couldn't hold on to their half-time lead when Edon visited Friday. Fayette connected on three threes in the fourth quarter—two from Cox and one from Nelson Barnhiser—but the Bombers shot six-for-six from the line to stay on top.
Cox scored 15. Hunter Colegrove collected five rebounds while Cox and Dakota Lantz each had four. Lantz also finished with four steals.
FAYETTE GIRLS BASKETBALL: Fayette's foul trouble paved the way for Hicksville's varsity girls Jan. 20. The Aces connected on 17 of 28 tries to claim a 61-51 non-conference victory.
The Eagles were down by nine at half-time, but Hicksville padded the lead with an 11-4 third quarter.
Fayette responded with a strong, 24-point fourth quarter, but the Aces nearly kept pace to notch the win.
Danni Wyse hit a pair of three-point shots in the final quarter, scoring 11 of her 14-point total that period. JeriAnn Lewellen also sank a pair of threes and finished the game with 12 points. Heather Cuff added three buckets in the fourth.
Elisha Hartman and Amber Scott each scored eight points, but Scott left the game with five fouls.
Hicksville hit eight free throws in the final quarter.
Thursday at Edon, the Eagles let a close game slip away in the fourth quarter, sending the Bombers to the line 13 times. Six of those went through the hoop to help Edon post a 49-36 BBC win.
Fayette came through on five of 15 tries from the line.
Wyse was the top scored for Fayette with 11 points.
• The Eagles travel to Stryker on Thursday and play at Montpelier on Saturday. The JV game begins a 3 p.m. The boys teams play later in the evening. A rescheduled game at Hilltop will be played Monday.
JV GIRLS: Fayette's JV girls made it past Hicksville Jan. 20, but when they traveled to league foe Edon on Thursday, they fell short.
The Eagles trailed Edon by 10 points going into the final quarter, but managed to trim off only three points in the 32-25 loss.
Fayette went to the line only four times, with Tori Lichtenwald sinking three of the four. She ended the game with seven points, just behind Leah Brinegar with eight.
The third quarter made the difference for the Eagles at home against Hicksville. Fayette took a 10-4 advantage to wrap up the close contest 34-27.
The Aces had their chances at the line, but hit only four of 15 shots. The Eagles came through with a seven-for-eight showing.
Nicole Shaffer led scoring with 12 points.
MORENCI BOYS BASKETBALL: Morenci was nearly the giant-killer last week at Summerfield. At that time the Monroe County team was still unbeaten in the league and Morenci played them closely.
The Bulldogs cut the lead to one point with less than three minutes to play, but ended up losing 70-59.
Instead, it was Whitmore Lake that delivered Summerfield's first loss three days later.
"The kids played hard and I was really pleased with their effort," coach Tim Bovee said. "We had some inopportune misses on some relatively easy shots. We have to concentrate on the little things."
Morenci had a narrow lead after a quarter and was down by just three at intermission.
When the Bulldogs pulled to within one late in the game, Bovee called time-out to make some final plans. After the in-bound, one pass was made before Morenci turned the ball over.
Summerfield came back with a bucket and then another one to secure the win.
Turn-overs, close-range shots and missed free throws (10 for 24)—that's what left Morenci short, Bovee said.
"We shot a better percentage overall, but we still missed some lay-ups," he said. "We're getting the opportunities but we just aren't capitalizing."
Summerfield's Eric Cogan scored 30 points.
WHITEFORD—Tuesday's game was against the top team. Friday brought the highest scorers to town.
Brandon Albright surpassed team-mate Jake Dupree as the TCC's top scorer. His 29 points against Morenci raised his season average to 22.2 points a game. Dupree stands at 20.9.
Whiteford took a commanding 36-21 lead at half-time and ended with a 71-48 win.
Matt Hoadley led Morenci's offensive effort with 15 points and Clayton Wolf added 11.
The Bulldogs travel Thursday to Clinton and Saturday for a make-up game at Deerfield. The JV contest starts at 2 p.m. The Bulldogs face Whiteford again on Tuesday.
JV BOYS: With the number of players dwindling, Morenci's junior varsity basketball team is taking some losses.
Leading scorer Andrew White is likely out for the season with mononucleosis, said coach John Craig. Brad Funchion and Max Gautz are out with injuries.
Even with the absent players, Craig said, the team has done well.
The Bulldogs played close with Whitmore Lake here Monday until late in the game when the Trojans pulled away with some three-point shots and claimed a 64-52 victory. Morenci led most of the night.
Both teams finished with seven shots outside the arc and Alex Tompkins hit three for Morenci.
Luke Craig led the Bulldogs' scoring with 14.
"We went down fighting," Craig said about the 57-42 loss at home Friday to Whiteford. "We played tremendous defense late in the game."
The Bulldogs outscored Whiteford 19-10 in the fourth quarter.
Lucas Hollstein scored 15 points, followed by Craig with 13.
Morenci played even with Summerfield during the second half, but the damage was done by then. Summerfield claimed a 65-49 victory.
"Summerfield is a very strong, very deep team," Coach Craig said.
MORENCI GIRLS BASKETBALL: Morenci's girls never could wrap up the win early at Deerfield last week. The Bulldogs ended up with a 59-48 TCC victory, despite a comeback attempt by the the Minutemen.
"We played well, but we couldn't hit the hole," coach Jim Yatzek said. "And Deerfield's not a bad ball team. They can be feisty."
Morenci' led by eight points at half-time while dealing with some foul trouble. The lead swelled to 19 in the big third quarter, but Deerfield managed to trim the margin below 10 points in the fourth.
"I challenged the girls to hold them to six points in the third quarter and Deerfield ended up eight."
But in the final period, the Bulldogs didn't protect the ball as well and turnovers helped the Minutemen come back.
Tia Tompkins finished with 21 points, all but two coming in the second half. The sophomore scored 12 in the third quarter, hit from both inside and outside the paint.
Nicolette Swimmer had a strong second half and finished with 12 points. Jade Pfund shot three for three from the field and four for four from the line for 10 points.
"We're headed in the right direction," Coach Yatzek said, but this week will determine where the Bulldogs end up.
Morenci traveled to Whitmore Lake last night and follow that up with make-up game at Summerfield tonight. They're on the road to Madison Thursday and to Sand Creek Friday.
MORENCI WRESTLING: Morenci produced a second-place finisher Saturday at the tough Hudson Super 16 tournament.
Twenty-eight teams were invited to the annual event in which the top 16 individuals in each division face off. A "B Division" tournament is run concurrently for wrestlers rated lower.
Morenci senior Jeff Nofziger earned two pins and a decision win before falling 6-11 in the finals to a Dundee opponent.
Nofziger started the day by pinning an East Jackson foe at 3:57 and followed that with an 11-6 decision against Sand Creek. A Highland Park wrestler was pinned at 3:13 to earn a place in the tournament finals.
Other Bulldogs earning points were Lucas Johnson who opened the 189-pound competition with an 8-4 decision against Highland Park.
Johnson then withdrew from the tournament due to an elbow injury.
Sam Majahrowski scored a quick 53-second pin in his opening bout in the 285-pound class, but he was later pinned by Caro at 1:04 and by Hart at 2:04.
Tyler Guelde (112) lost 0-16 to the eventual tournament runner-up from Hudson and was pinned by an Adrian wrestler.
Corey Williams (152) was pinned by a Blissfield wrestler at 1:20 and he lost to Hudson 0-6.
Nathan Grieder was pinned by Dansville at 1:28 and lost to Napoleon 7-10 in the final seconds of the match.
Dustin Roller didn't compete due to a shoulder injury.
In the "B Division," Marcus Burciaga claimed a 6-4 decision against St. Mary Catholic Central before losing to Manchester by a pin in the finals.
Loren Delmonico was pinned by wrestlers from Martin and Summit Academy.
In team points, Morenci placed 20th of 28 teams. Dundee edged Hudson for the title.
"There was a lot of really good wrestling and some very tough teams," coach Scott Clark said. "I saw some state champs taking third place."
• Morenci competes Saturday at the Jonesville team tournament with seven teams participating.


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Fall Meeting
3 posts • Page 1 of 1
Re : Fall Meeting
Great minds think a like. I thought about posting in the thread you started, but figured it might get more attention if I started a new one. My calendar is starting to fill up, but I've got the 4th in pencil for us! :-)
Re : Fall Meeting
Looks like we posted at the same time Kara! I just posted in the original post. Hopefully members will peek in and let us know if that date works.
Fall Meeting
Can we narrow down a date for the Fall get together? Does the first Saturday in November (4th) still look good for everyone? Let us know either way. Then we can narrow down a location. I think we said tentatively between Portage and Steven's Point. Can you make it?
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Ain't that the truth! Not only does the Koran have no ethics, the Koran also doesn't recognize the Golden Rule. The Koran is equally void of morals. Everything that spreads Islam: Good. Everything that opposes Islam: Baaaad!
THE bestselling author Sebastian Faulks has courted controversy by saying the Koran has "no ethical dimension".
In an interview with today's Sunday Times Magazine, he added that the Islamic holy scripture was "a depressing book", was "very one-dimensional" and unlike the Christian New Testament had "no new plan for life".
Faulks was speaking in advance of the publication of his novel, A Week in December.
Best known for historical works such as Birdsong and Charlotte Gray, his new novel addresses contemporary London. Its characters include a health fund manager, a literary critic and a Glasgow-born Islamic terrorist recruit. Researching the latter, he read a translation of the Koran which he found "very disappointing from a literary point of view".
He also criticised the "barrenness" of the Koran's message and the teachings of the prophet Muhammad, especially when compared with the Bible.
"Jesus, unlike Muhammad, had interesting things to say," Faulks said.
"He proposed a revolutionary way of looking at the world: love your neighbour; love your enemy; the meek shall inherit the earth. Muhammad had nothing to say to the world other than, 'If you don't believe in God you will burn for ever'."
Criticism of the Koran is regarded as blasphemous by Muslims.
The Pseudo-Golden Rule or Do Unto Which Others?
Muslims are very sensitive about the lack of a Golden Rule in Islam. So, when you bring this up they always rush to assert that Muslims love everybody, in particular, Christians and Jews. And, of course, Islam has a Golden Rule.
In a past newsletter, I argued that Islam had no Golden Rule. Marcelle Sagan replied to my post on the website of the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Center, a site sponsored by the royal house of Jordan. Given this source of funding, so you expect the highest quality of scholarship on Islam.
So let's take a look at some of Mr. Sagan's arguments, one at a time.
He makes the usual claims of Islam being the victim of ignorant Islamophobes and advances that anything a critic about Islam has to say never, ever, has any truth in it at all. This attitude comes directly from the Sunna of Mohammed. Mohammed was never wrong, Islam is perfect and anyone who does not believe this is a bigot. Mohammed was always the victim. When he attacked unarmed caravans in the sacred months, Islam was the true victim, not the murdered kafir (non-Muslim) Meccans.
Mr. Sagan argues that Islam is filled with statements about the Golden Rule. His first claim for the Golden Rule is this Koran verse:
83:1 Woe betide the unjust who, when others measure for them, exact in full, but when they measure or weigh for others, defraud them!
Giving Islam the benefit of the doubt, doing business in an honest manner could be construed as a very narrow, weak version of the Golden Rule. However, let's examine this verse in its context and with a frame of reference. When Mohammed moved to Medina, he found that the Medinans routinely cheated when measuring out goods in a sale. When the Meccan Muslims complained that they gave good weight and were being cheated by their Medinan Muslim brothers, Allah gave Mohammed this verse. The actual case involves Muslims selling to Muslims.
Here is a quote from the Hadith with some ethical advice along the same lines:
Bukhari 9, 86, 109: […] the Prophet said, 'In dealing with Muslims one should not sell them sick (animals) or bad things or stolen things."
Does this sound like the Golden Rule? Where are the kafirs (unbelievers) in this morality?
Then Mr. Sagan quotes Mohammed:
None of you believe until you desire for your brother, what you desire for yourself.
But who is a Muslim's brother? Humanity? Mohammed gives us his answer:
Bukhari 1, 2, 12: The Prophet said, "None of you will have faith till he wishes for his (Muslim) brother what he likes for himself."
Bukhari 3, 43, 622: Allah's Apostle said, "A Muslim is a brother of another Muslim, so he should not oppress him, nor should he hand him over to an oppressor. Whoever fulfilled the needs of his brother, Allah will fulfill his needs; whoever brought his (Muslim) brother out of a discomfort, Allah will bring him out of the discomforts of the Day of Resurrection, and whoever screened a Muslim, Allah will screen him on the Day of Resurrection. "
What we see here is that there is a Golden Rule but only in an Islamic way. Muslims are to practice the Golden Rule, but only with other Muslims. This is ethical dualism.
Perhaps, Mr. Sagan missed the universal brotherhood hidden somewhere in the 6,800 hadiths of Bukhari. Do the math. There are 209 hadiths that mention the word "brother". Of those 209 hadiths, 96 concern blood kinsman ship and the other 113, each and every one, are about spiritual brotherhood where a Muslim is a brother to other Muslims.
Then Mr. Sagan uses an outright deception. He states that in Mohammed's farewell sermon, he said: "That which you want for yourself, seek for mankind." These words sound good until you read Mohammed's farewell sermon and find he says no such thing. In this sermon, Mohammed did say to treat your slaves well, that Muslims are brothers to each other, that your wives are your prisoners and to beat them if they disobey you. Oh yes! That is universal brotherhood, compassion and Golden Rule. The only times Mohammed ever said anything about humanity or mankind, it was that mankind had to submit to Islam.
Why did Mr. Sagan manufacture this quote? Because, Mohammed repeatedly advised Muslims to deceive the kafir if it would advance Islam:
Bukhari 5, 59, 369: Allah's Apostle said, "Who is willing to kill Al-Ashraf who has hurt Allah and His Apostle?" Thereupon Muhammad bin Maslama got up saying, "O Allah's Apostle! Would you like that I kill him?" The Prophet said, "Yes." Muhammad bin Maslama said, "Then allow me to say a (false) thing (i.e. to deceive Kab). The Prophet said, "You may say it." […]
And finally, let us examine the Golden rule in Mohammed's life. Since he is the perfect moral example, his actions define morality. If we look in the Sira, Mohammed's biography, we do find incidences where he treated the kafirs well, but the treatment was always part of seduction and persuasion to get them to submit to Islam. If that did not work, then he attacked them. In the end, Mohammed violently attacked each and every neighbor he had. He was the ultimate bad neighbor. The Golden Rule makes you a good neighbor. Islam's dualistic ethics make Muslims the same kind of neighbor as Mohammed was.
The reason Muslims use deception about the Golden Rule is that they know not having it makes Islam look bad. Why do politicians, preachers, rabbis, educators and media commentators repeat the propaganda about how wonderful Islam is? Their duplicity or silence stems from fear and ignorance.
So, Muslims, preachers, politicians, rabbis, educators and media pundits are deceivers, but for different reasons. Muslims are following the example of Mohammed and our leaders are ignorant cowards. When seen in this light, even though they have been given no Golden Rule to follow, perhaps the argument can be made that Muslims are more admirable than these others.
Bill Warner, Center for the Study of Political Islam


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Happy Happy New Year to Everyone!
It's new year base on the Western Calendar, and Feng Shui experts / Feng Shui consultants have been appearing on TV, magazines, and on radio. I have listened to a few some are a legit, but some are totally bogus. First thing first, the year of the earth dog doesn't come in until Feb. 16, 2018.
Also heard a Feng Shui consultant on radio suggesting several cures. When asked by the anchor what will happen if the person doesn't have any money to buy the cures, the Feng Shui consultant then that person should prepare for a troubled life because "nobody is bigger than the force of the world" he said in Filipino.
True! I totally agree with him. Nobody is bigger than the force of the world but our faith in a higher being should be bigger than our fears because it is definitely bigger than the force of the world.
What am I saying here?
You all know that I'm strong advocate of cures and/or amulets, especially Buddhist amulets that are highly consecrated! However, the truth is some of these are limited and most often than not because of the process of making them and also because of the things that goes into the amulets, they become quite pricey and one need to fully own the amulets before it really works, this is done in several ways but these days it is mostly done thru an exchange of energies via a stipulated monetary donation. The money covers for the cost of making the amulets, transport, and a donation for building temples and/or feeding the monks. To understand this better, you can read my post called – THE EVOLUTION OF ACQUIRING AN AMULET!
And so, because of these factors, some people might not be able to afford powerful amulets. Does that mean they're hopeless and should prepare for a troubled year ahead as this Feng Shui consultant is saying? Of course, not, in this blog, I have talked about, several times, what I call the "amulet from within".
What is the amulet from within? This is our genuine compassion, genuine kindness, genuine love, genuine goodness of our heart. The key word is genuine, meaning it should be real and true. If we have these things, it should also serve as some sort of an amulet. The compassion, kindness, love, goodness here should go beyond our family and friends, it is much broader than the love for family and friends, much purer.
On top of that, we should realize that our faith in a higher being be it Buddha, Allah, Shiva or Jesus Christ, should be bigger than our fears because they are definitely bigger than the force of the world.
Real faith and not pride because of the false humility that one is favored by the higher beings is the key.
While it is true that cures and amulets makes things easier, because they serve as an extension of positive chi, it doesn't mean without them we are doomed. Because Fate lead by Faith is a path to bliss.
For questions, comments, and suggestions please email firstname.lastname@example.com


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PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Sean Payton lists Bill Parcells as his mentor. These days, the New Orleans Saints coach may need that support more than ever.
Facing a season-long suspension for his role in the Saints' bounties program, Payton planned to meet with Parcells, his former boss, on Tuesday, a conversation that will include who will coach New Orleans this coming season.
Speaking Tuesday morning at the NFL meetings, Payton said he talks regularly with Parcells, and has sought his counsel often throughout this process. He added that he, general manager Mickey Loomis — who is facing an eight-game suspension — and team owner Tom Benson are weighing a number of scenarios, and Payton said a decision whether he will appeal the suspension is likely in the next "two to three" days.
"We've gone through just an early, between Mickey, myself, Mr. Benson, just an early synopsis of what our options would be," Payton said. "We'll continue to do that when we get back to Metairie. Even this morning some, we're going to have some breakfast and discuss that matter. Fortunately, we feel like we've got a number of good candidates. The trick then is what it does to affect their roles that they currently have."
One role Payton is certain about: He's "100 percent" confident he will coach the Saints in 2013.
Parcells led the New York Giants to two Super Bowl victories, is a mentor to Payton, and hired Payton as an offensive assistant in Dallas in 2003.
"You're asking me what are his great strengths?" Payton said. "And I would say to you he's a great teacher. Certainly I'm biased, having worked with him. But he's a Hall of Fame head coach. And I would also say there's some things probably set up in the framework of our program that would be exactly how he would have set those things up had he been the head coach here in '06. So there's some carry-over that way."
Payton spoke for about 18 minutes on Tuesday, remaining composed throughout. He talked about the disappointment that for the first time since his first season playing football as a kid 39 years ago he may miss a season.
"You go through a range of emotions that kind of hit you," the 48-year-old Payton said. "You're disappointed. You're disappointed in yourself that it got to this point. I think we're trained as coaches to begin preparation right away. I find myself reflecting on it, and you go through a lot of emotions."
The NFL's investigation found that Payton initially lied to league investigators about the program, at first denying its existence, and also instructed his defensive assistants to lie. Payton twice has apologized for his role in the bounty system that offered payouts for big hits on opponents, saying he takes "full responsibility" for the program that operated for three years under his watch.
Commissioner Roger Goodell said Monday that if Payton appeals the suspension, he could remain as coach during the process.
"I said in a letter they have to appeal by April 2, I believe," Goodell said. "If he decides to appeal, I probably will allow him to continue and I would expedite the hearing and I would expedite my decision."
Asked if Payton's punishment was as much for lying to him as it was for the actual bounties program, Goodell spoke about a pattern of untruths.
"This is a violation of a very serious rule," Goodell said. "We have made player health and safety very clear as a priority. During the process of when this first was raised two years ago, there were denials. They were not forthright and that continued through our investigation.
"This is something with zero tolerance and is not acceptable."
The league also slapped a six-game suspension on assistant head coach Joe Vitt, who also coaches linebackers and was a potential choice to fill in for Williams.
Former defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, who left the Saints after last season to join the St. Louis Rams, ran the bounty program and has been suspended indefinitely. Goodell also fined the Saints $500,000 and took away second-round draft choices in 2012 and 2013.
Payton was asked if he felt the Saints were being punished too severely.
"No, I accept this," Payton said. "I've heard that argument and I think trying to really look closely at how we and how I can improve has been probably a better way for me to handle this than to kind of vent or look outwardly at other programs. I try to take that approach."
AP Pro Football Writer Barry Wilner in Palm Beach and Sports Writer Brett Martel in New Orleans contributed to this story.
(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)


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Car cigarette GPS Jammer CYZ02 (up to 15m)
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Product Description
Jamming car CYZ02 is connected to the cigarette lighter, blocking GPS signals, and creates a shield that will hide your location. The device effectively at distances up to 15 meters. The set includes a detachable antenna. During the GPS jammers, the work of other devices (phones, computers, etc.) is not disturbed. Connecting the device to the car's cigarette lighter, it immediately starts its operation and generates a maximum range of 15 meters, "white noise" in the GPS band. These are the main ranges of most GPS-devices, including trackers. Action of GPS jammers is aimed at tracking devices and other devices that work with the satellite (including navigators) and they just do not get the signal.
Technical features:
Frequencies 1565-1585 MHz
Range GPS L1
Black color
Total power output: 70 mW
Size: 7.5 * 1 * 2 cm
Power supply: 12 V Sun
Repressed system: GPS
Operating temperature -10 ℃ to + 90 ℃
Suppressor GPS CYZ01
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Basketball Workouts: Free Throw Shooting
If you want to win basketball games then you better be able to shoot free throws. Don't be the hack a Shaq guy and be a detriment to your team in close games. So lets talk about basketball shooting drills to improve your free throw shooting.
You hear the phrase "You have to learn how to win." Well one part of learning how to win is making your free throws. So lets talk about basketball shooting drills to improve your free throw shooting.
To be an excellent free throw shooter I believe that you need to have a routine at the foul line. Find a routine that you are comfortable with and will relax you. Do this routine every time you are shooting a free throw.
The second thing to remember is having good fundamentals when shooting the free throw. Make sure you bend your knees and get your legs into the shot. The legs are very important, especially late in a game when you are tired.
Have your shooting hand behind the ball on the fingertips and use your off hand as a guide. As you begin to shoot you will drop your off hand from the ball and then extend your shooting arm to the sky. Your hand will naturally wave good bye to the ball. Make sure you have arc and backspin on the ball. That will give you the shooters roll.
When practicing your free throws you can do these two things.
1. Stand at the foul line and shoot hundreds of foul shots a day. This will improve your foul shooting because of the repetition and hard work you are putting in. Please understand that you must be practicing the correct fundamentals of shooting and always do your routine. If you practice the wrong fundamentals, then you will not improve. You are just practicing the wrong way to shoot.
2. Put yourself in game time situations
Never shoot more than 2 foul shots at time or 3 if you are fouled taking a three pointer. The point is to put yourself in game time situations. Shoot one and one, 2 foul shots and 3 foul shots. After shooting your foul shots, you can:
Run suicides - this will increase your endurance and also make you tired so you can practice what it feels like to take foul shots late in the game when you are tired.
Shot 10 shots on floor where you normally shoot in the game. After the 10 shots, go the line and put yourself in a game time situation. For example, 2 shots, down by 2 with 30 seconds to play.
Do ball handling drills - do these drills for about 5 minutes then go the foul line and make up a game time situation.
Repeat the drills until you have made 100 free throws.
I personally like the second method of practicing free throws. This way you are practicing the same thing that you will doing in a game. There will be less pressure on you because you have practiced this many times in the gym to prepare for this moment.
Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com
To learn more basketball workouts to help improve your game visit this site: basketball workouts
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Denne appen ble utviklet av Common Ninja
Wix App Market partner
This app made by Common Ninja.
Common Ninja creates delightful tools for websites. With HTML5 and a good attitude, we believe the web could be much more reachable. For eveyone.
Currently, we own 4 awesome apps which you can use on your Wix website:
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- Feeder Ninja - For adding an engaging RSS & Social feed.
- Charts Ninja - For creating a professional charts and graphs.
- Pricer Ninja - For creating awesome responsive pricing tables!
More apps coming soon...


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(CNN) - China announced Thursday new regulations aimed to curb addiction to gaming among minors.
The new guidelines are China's latest move in an ongoing campaign to increase regulation of the gaming industry.
Under the new rules, gamers aged younger than 18 will be banned from playing online games between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m. on weekdays and can only play for 90 minutes. On weekends and public holidays, they may play up to three hours per day.
The new measures also restrict how much money the youth can transfer to their online gaming accounts. Gamers aged between eight and 16 years old can only top up 200 yuan, or $29 per month, while the maximum amount for those between 16 and 18 will be 400 yuan, or $57.
The regulations are aimed at curbing video game addiction.
China is the world's largest gaming market, accounting for a quarter of global revenue, according to market research firm Newzoo.
Copyright 2019 CNN. All rights reserved.


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Flagship Journals
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Loan rules:
Our current rules for borrowing all our materials can be found in the links above. This includes rules for Hiram College Library materials as well as OhioLINK (which have slightly different rules) and SearchOHIO rules. If you have any questions about our loan rules please contact us.
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Strictly as a courtesy, the library has set up its system to automatically send emails to your Hiram email account. The system is set up to send a courtesy notice shortly before items are due, one day after they are due, and fifteen days after they are due. Replacement bills are also sent by email. If you cannot locate emails that we are sending please check your junk box in Outlook.
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All non-faculty library accounts will be blocked once it accrues $25 or more in fines or fees. This will prevent you from borrowing books from Hiram College or through OhioLINK. The block is removed when the fees charged are less than $25.
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We also have other materials you may borrow that you may be unaware of such as Board Games, Laptops, Dry Erase Marker Sets, and VHS players. Additionally you can use the facilities at the library. For more information Check out our Electronics, Games, and Classroom materials page. If you are interested in our facilities we have an Important Spaces at the Library page as well.
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Naples –its name comes from the Greek "neapolis" or new city—is located in the region of Campania in southern Italy, about two hours south of Rome, on the northern edge of the beautiful Bay of Naples. Views of the majestic, 7,000-foot-high Vesuvius volcano greet passengers as their ship arrives in Naples, southern Italy's most important port.
Vesuvius destroyed the cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum in 79 A.D., and day trips to these famous archaeological sites, that open a window to life in ancient Roman times, are very popular shore excursion offerings during stops at Naples. Other day trip excursions easily arranged onboard ships are drives along the lovely Amalfi Coast including picturesque Positano, and tours to the isles of Capri and Ischia as well as to the seaside city of Sorrento with its cameo-making factories and other charms.
Cruise passengers who opt for staying in Naples itself, have piazzas and pizzas to look forward to during typical city tours. An impressive city, Naples' main sights include the imposing, medieval Maschio Angioino Castle dating from the 13th century, the classy Mergellina district along the coast, the old Santa Lucia district – the oldest part of Naples – and Posillipo Hill. Views from the top of the hill, as well as from other points of the city, include the sights of Mount Vesuvius and the Bay of Naples.
At the Piazza Plebiscito –one of several beautiful piazzas in the city – visitors can admire the elegant Royal Palace, the San Francesco di Paola church (which is inspired in the Pantheon in Rome) and the Neo-classical San Carlo Opera House, which pre-dates the more famous La Scala in Milan.
Across from the San Carlo Opera House is the Galleria, a shopping center in Neo-Classical style with lovely mosaics themed to the zodiac that also pre-dates a similar one in Milan. The Galleria is an excellent place to purchase fashions and fine leather goods Italy is known for.
Other souvenirs to be on the lookout for are local crafts including nativity scenes –craftsmen on Via Gregorio Armeno, in the heart of the old city, have been creating the nativity scenes called "presepio" in Italian, and selling them for centuries. Their workshops line the narrow pedestrian street and also offer, in addition to the nativity scenes, terra cotta items, carvings, decorated plates and other works of art.
Another popular stop on city tours, whether organized or by independents, is at the Naples Archaeological Museum, at Piazza Museo 19, in the historic Spaccanapoli district, with a large collection of art, sculpture, mosaics and artifacts from Pompeii, Herculaneum and other ancient Roman sites.
Another Naples sightseeing "must" for art lovers, in this case when it comes to churches, is the Cappella Sansevero (Via San de Sanctis 19) where among other treasures visitors find the Veiled Christ marble sculpture. Carved in 1783 by Giuseppe Sanmartino, the figure of Christ depicted appears to be covered by a thin veil. The features of Christ are visible under the delicate "fabric" of marble as are the crucifixion wounds.
Many city tours sold onboard ships make a stop at a typical Naples restaurant for lunch, perhaps Toto Sapore (All Flavor), to see how Naples' gift to the world: the delicious, iconic Neapolitan pizza (what locals like to call "a real pizza,") is made. An expert pizza-maker demonstrates the process –the traditional pizza margherita is prepared with flour without yeast, tomato sauce, buffalo mozzarella, olive oil and basil – to honor the colors of the Italian flag: red, white and green. The pie is then baked in a firewood oven at 400 degrees –a thin-crusted delight that tour participants get to feast on, of course.
Other local flavors not to be missed include pasta and seafood –perhaps spaghetti in a variety of sauces with clams and mussels – and traditional Neapolitan desserts including "spumoni," "biscotti," "pastiera" cake and "sfogliatelle," a delicate, flaky pastry made with ricotta cheese and orange and lemon zest.
Cruise lines that visit Naples include Celebrity, Costa, Crystal, Cunard, Disney, Holland America, MSC, Oceania, Norwegian, Princess, Royal Caribbean and Seabourn.
IF YOU GO – For additional information on Naples, visit www.italia.it.


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Gutiar Pro Tab "Smells Like Teen Spirit" from Nirvana band is free to download. Tablature file Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit opens by means of the Guitar PRO program. This program is available to downloading on our site.
Welcome to gtptabs.com! Here you will find free Guitar Pro tabs.


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Adventures Of Tintin: Season One, The
Tintin. Snowy. Haddock. Calculus.
A few short years ago, hearing these words would have likely elicited one of two reactions from you: a warm glow of recognition or sudden concern for my mental health (okay, fine...you don't give a fig about my mental health). If you belong to the former group then you are well aware of the adventures of Tintin and his colorful group of friends. If you're in the latter group, then you probably grew up in America.
Tintin was a comic strip creation of the immensely gifted Belgian artist Hergé. Over a period of roughly 50 years (ranging from the late 20s to the mid 70s), Hergé released 23 rip-roaring comic book adventures (his 24th remains sadly unfinished) featuring the plucky reporter, his canine sidekick (Snowy) and memorable pals (including Captain Haddock and Professor Calculus). While the tales of Tintin are positively huge in Europe, the character never quite caught on in the States. Of course, Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson are now poised to change all that with their upcoming ambitious motion capture animated film that promises to put Tintin under a global spotlight.
Lest you think that Spielberg and Jackson's film will be the first time that Tintin sees the animated light of day, I assure you this is not the case. The character has been adapted numerous times before and this release captures the first season of his animated show that ran for three seasons (from 1991 to 1992) as a joint production of Ellipse (France) and Nelvana (Canada). While the episodes follow the original broadcast schedule, they are definitely out of sync with the chronology of the published source material. The first season gives us the following 13 episodes :
1. The Crab with the Golden Claws, Part 1
2. The Crab with the Golden Claws, Part 2
3. The Secret of the Unicorn, Part 1
4. The Secret of the Unicorn, Part 2
5. Red Rackham's Treasure
6. Cigars of the Pharaoh, Part 1
7. Cigars of the Pharaoh, Part 2
8. The Blue Lotus, Part 1
9. The Blue Lotus, Part 2
10. The Black Island, Part 1
11. The Black Island, Part 2
12. The Calculus Affair, Part 1
13. The Calculus Affair, Part 2
Before I continue with any discussion of the individual episodes, it's probably best to lay out the characters for the uninitiated. As I've already mentioned, Tintin is a young Belgian reporter who is largely defined by his heroic nature and his determination to follow any story to its conclusion with little regard for his own safety. Snowy is Tintin's adorable fox terrier who amps up the cuteness quotient while coming to his master's aid in many a sticky situation. A major recurring character (and fan favorite) is Captain Haddock, a crusty old grump who usually sets his cynicism aside just long enough to join Tintin on some of his adventures. Professor Calculus is the Q to Tintin's Bond. He is a slightly deaf but fairly ingenious inventor who often comes in handy. Serving quite the opposite purpose are Thomson and Thompson, a pair of bumbling detectives who provide comic relief through their general ineptitude.
It may seem like Tintin has a large supporting cast of characters but I assure you they are integral to the success of the ensuing adventures because (gulp), Tintin himself is kind of boring. Before any Tintin fans start hammering out angry emails (I promise I'm one of you), allow me to explain myself. As I said earlier, the character's defining features are his heroic nature and determination. While these are admirable virtues to have, they also render him quite one-dimensional. It's a good thing then that these very same shortcomings position him as a perfect cipher for the reader / viewer to project his or her own thrill seeking needs upon. As the mental distance between you and the character vanishes and you find yourself being plugged into his adventures, the spirited supporting cast becomes an immense boon. They color in the details that give a tale its life while Tintin takes care of the necessary plot mechanics. Everything in its place and everyone serves a purpose.
I mentioned earlier that the episodes don't follow the chronology of Hergé's source material. While this may be disappointing to purists, it does serve a practical purpose for the show. The first two episodes adapt The Crab with the Golden Claws which is where Tintin encounters Captain Haddock for the very first time. This is key because the next set of episodes (The Secret of the Unicorn and Red Rackham's Treasure) build upon Tintin and Haddock's friendship by tossing them into a thrilling yarn filled with pirates, thieves and sunken treasure. The story told by these 5 episodes lays such a seamless foundation for the characters that it is actually the basis for Spielberg and Jackson's film.
The trend of interlocking stories continues as Cigars of the Pharaoh leads directly into The Blue Lotus. Since both of these tales are based on books that came before The Crab with the Golden Claws, we don't get the benefit of Captain Haddock's curmudgeonly presence. Instead we get a globe-trotting escapade that sees Tintin and Snowy traveling through Egypt, India and China in pursuit of opium smugglers. It's a fun adventure that employs a large cast of characters in a very effective manner. I can't quite say the same for the next Haddock-less story, The Black Island. I must admit that this one was never one of my favorites when I was growing up and my slight distaste for it has carried over. It makes the critical mistake of replacing the awe-inspiring sense of discovery found in the other adventures with an overdose of empty action. At one point a car chase turns into a chase on a train which then turns into a chase via planes. Considering the titular island only shows up in the final 10 minutes of the second episode, it feels like much ado about nothing. At least the final tale, The Calculus Affair, closes things out on a high note. Tintin, Snowy and Captain Haddock investigate the kidnapping of Professor Calculus with a fine blend of detective work and action that never feels out of place.
From a visual standpoint, I have to give massive kudos to the animation team. The character designs adhere so closely to Hergé's originals that one would swear the panels of the comic book have been set into motion. The animators perfectly capture Hergé's ligne claire style in what amounts to a labor of love. Of course, not everything from the books has been carried over exactly. This is partly due to the time constraint of fitting each tale into a pair of 22 minute episodes (except for Red Rackham's Treasure which only gets one episode to itself). Some of the material has also been toned down a bit to make it more kid-friendly. Haddock drinks less, fewer characters smoke and the gun play is less prominent. This is not to say that the show has been neutered. It still has plenty of unsavory behavior on display including (implied) murder, (light) boozing and some of Haddock's inimitable cursing ("Blistering Barnacles" and "Thundering Typhoons"). Honestly, I think die-hards will be more put off by the fact that unlike the books, Snowy doesn't talk via thought bubbles anymore.
Rather than quibbling about what was left out and what was altered, I have to ask myself a simple question. Did this show capture the essence of those books that took my imagination on a wild ride as a youngster and set the standard for all future tales of adventure and discovery? You can't see me now but my inner ten year old is nodding vigorously.
The show was presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.33:1. Considering the early 90s pedigree, I was unsurprised to see that the image was a bit soft in spots. I also noticed specks and dirt with some buzzing and jitter in the picture. Some smearing was also noticeable with the bright colors. With that said, given its age, the image was more than adequate and didn't really prove to be distracting.
The audio was presented in a Dolby Digital Stereo track with English and Spanish language options. I chose to view the show with the English track and found it to be free of any obvious defects with the character voice work coming through loud and clear. The action scenes could have used a bit more oomph but the presentation was perfectly acceptable for the material at hand. English subtitles were also available.
Sadly, there were no extras at all.
For those in the know, Hergé's tales of Tintin, the Belgian reporter, were beautifully illustrated interpretations of every child's fevered imagination. The comic books skipped through genres (fantasy, action, science fiction, mystery) while sending our hero and his friends around the globe on numerous voyages filled with adventure and discovery. The early 90s animated adaptation of Hergé's tales is true to his spirit and a worthy addition to the library of any Tintin fan. This marks the first U.S. DVD release for the show. With the first of three seasons in hand, I can't wait for the other two. Highly Recommended.
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